Report shows MTN dominated Nigeria’s mobile internet market in 2024

• A report by nPerf has shown that MTN dominated Nigeria’s mobile internet market in 2024
• The report also indicated the performance of Airtel and Globacom
• The operators’ performance was measured by utilising extensive tests conducted during both busy hours and idle hours

A report by nPerf, a French company that measures internet connectivity globally, says MTN dominated Nigeria’s mobile internet market in 2024.

The nPerf Barometer report, which covered the period from January 1 to December 31, 2024, noted that there is significant improvement in mobile connectivity in Nigeria.

It measured the key performance indicators (KPIs) of MTN, Airtel, and Globacom for the year, which included download speed, upload speed, latency, and video streaming.

The report stated that MTN achieved an impressive performance score in the areas measured and dominated the 4G focus area.

It said, “Not only does MTN excel in download speed, upload speed, and latency, but it also leads in video streaming.  

“MTN dominates the 4G focus area, reinforcing its pioneering position in the mobile technology sector. Significant improvements include a remarkable enhancement in upload speed.”

The performance of Airtel and Globacom

The report highlighted the performance of Airtel and Globacom during the period.

It stated that Airtel demonstrated strong performance in browsing and video streaming.

“The operator’s contributions are vital to the market’s competitiveness, and its focus on enhancing user experience is evident,” nPerf stated.

For Globacom, the report said the Internet provider is also making steady progress with notable improvements in its overall score.

“Glo has shown improvements in various areas, contributing positively to the market’s dynamics,” it said.

nPerf, however, noted that 9mobile was not included in the report because it focused only on national Internet service providers with test share above five per cent.

How nPerf arrived at its judgement

The report calculated the operators’ internet performance by utilising extensive tests conducted during both busy hours (6 PM to 11 PM) and idle hours, to ensure a comprehensive analysis of user experiences.

“Busy hours, marked by network strain, can impact user experience through congestion. This approach helps in understanding how network performance fluctuates throughout the day,” it said.

MTN has 51.09 per cent of Nigeria’s mobile market 

As of October 2024, MTN accounted for 52.09 per cent of Nigeria’s mobile market, according to the latest data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

It is followed by Airtel, which has 34.61 per cent share of the market, while the third spot is occupied by Globacom, which accounts for 12.15 per cent share of the market.

9mobile occupied the laggard position, as it accounts for only 2.15 per cent of the market share.

As of October 2024, MTN dominated the market in terms of customer base, as it has 69.5 million subscriptions, while Airtel recorded 45.7 million subscriptions.

Globacom’s internet subscriptions for the period stood at 17.1 million while 9mobile had 2.1 million subscriptions.

120 million Nigerians lack access to the internet due to infrastructural gaps – Report

According to GSMA’s State of Mobile Connectivity Report 2024, half of Nigeria’s population (120 million) lacks access to mobile internet due to infrastructural gaps.

The report noted that the usage gap is still a challenge in low- and medium-income countries (LMICs) such as Nigeria. The usage gap is the population that lives within the footprint of a mobile broadband network but does not use mobile internet.